Swallowing Wrong More Easily Lately

For about the last six months, it has seemed to be easier for me to accidentally swallow something down the wrong "pipe":
especially when eating/drinking lying down: I haven't actually choked but i have t be more careful than formerly. Also I notice that occasionally when I breathe in, I will make a snoring or snorting sound from my tonsils: which never used to happen: as if my throat muscles or tonsils were getting lazier.
Background/history: constant allergic (?) sinusitis/drainage/stuffiness for most of my adult life. Septoplasty in 2000: for a deviated septum. Since then, the drainage has increased and now includes occasional hard/solid strings of mucus which never occurred before the operation.
I have always snored: I don't know if it is worse recently.
I am 48, female, 5'6, weigh 160: have never smoked, healthwise feel really good/no other weird symptoms. At my physical my family doctor didn't see anything unusual about my throat or tonsils.
My only medication are two prescriptions for normal tension glaucoma: Travatan and Cosopt.
Family history:
My father had a hiatal hernia as does his sister. My mother's brother had multiple sclerosis. A lot of cancer in the family (breast cancer and colon cancer) but no throat cancers. My mother (age 80) is being evaluated for possible parathyroid troubles. A lot of type 2 diabetes in the family.

I have made an appointment with an ENT: however would appreciate any information: as to what this sounds like: does it sound like a hiatal hernia? However I have never had heartburn or any digestive problems. Maybe it is just "nerves/stress/my imagination", but I do want my doctor to check it out to rule out something a lot worse: I am a little scared about things like cancer or neurological disorders:
so any reassuring (or even non-reassuring) information would help.


Sunflower

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Aspiration looks to be the problem here.  A hiatal hernia typically does not result in this.  

A referral to a speech pathologist or ENT would be the next step.  A modified barium swallow study needs to be done to determine whether you are aspirating solids or liquids.  Treatment would depend on what was found during the test.

If the barium swallow is negative, an upper endoscopy can be considered for a more comprehensive evaluation of the upper digestive tract.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_